Guide line supporting apparatus



Aug. 20, 1968 D. 1.. WICKLUND GUIDE LINE SUPPORTING APPARATUS S Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. '7, 1967 INVENTOR. MCKL u/vo BY FIG. 5

L E M D w w K a m q m ATTORNEYS Aug. 20, 1968 o. L. WICKLUND 3,397,458

GUIDE LINE SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 7, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

DALE L. Menu/v0 ATTORNEYS Aug. 20, 1968 0. L. WICKLUND 3,397,453

GUIDE LINE SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 7, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 92 1W? 1 F 65 I INVENTOR.

DALE L. McKLUA/D A1- TORNEYS United States Patent 3,397,458 GUIDE LINE SUPPORTING APPARATUS. Dale L. Wicklund, Rte. 2, Box 157A, Deer River, Minn. 56636 Filed Sept. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 666,134 3 Claims. (CI. 33-86) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elongated rigid spacing member fixedly attached in a vertical position having a member extending outwardly generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof adjacent the guide line for masonry construction and the like. The outwardly extending member has means thereon for engaging the guide line and maintaining it horizontal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention Description of the prior art In the prior art, bricks are positioned in the central portion of the wall with a twig, which may be any straight elongated member, held rigidly in place thereby and extending outwardly therefrom to support the guide Line in the central portion thereof. This method of supporting the guide line is extremely unsatisfactory because large quantities of effort and time are required in positioning the bricks correctly in the central portions of the course.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to apparatus for 'use in masonry construction to support portions of a guide line and maintain said guide line approximately horizontal, and more specifically, to apparatus which can be correctly positioned at the beginning of the masonry construction and which can be quickly and easily adjusted to maintain a guide line a the correct height for each course of bricks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for use in masonry construction to support portions of a guide line approximately 'horizontally.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide guide line supporting apparatus which is easily'adjustable for different sizes of bricks and for each additional course of bricks.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus for supporting a guide line which greatly simplifies the adjustment of the guide line to different heights for additional courses of brick and different sizes of brick.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, 'wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the figures: FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a partially constructed brick walll and one embodiment of the presen apparatus positioned adjacent thereto;

'ice

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of the present apparates as seen from the line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 44 in FIGURE 2; 7

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view as seen from the line 5-5 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a view in perspective of a second embodiment of the present apparatus;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view of the present apparatus as seen from the line 7-7 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 88 in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 9-9 in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged View in perspective of the spacing member used in the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 11 is a view in top plan of a third embodiment of the present apparatus;

FIGURE 12 is a view in front elevation of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view as seen from the line 1313 in FIGURE 12; and

FIGURE 14 is an exploded view in perspective of the positioning means for the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGURE 1, a starting course 20 of block, which may be cinder or cement block or any of the various varieties of brick or the like, is illustrated correctly positioned in the usual manner. At either end of the starting course 20, three additional courses of block have been started to provide an anchor for a guide line 21. Guide line 21 is attached to the upper surface of the end bricks in a course by means of a pair of U-shaped spring clamps 22. To eventually construct a straight wall, the guide line 21 must be maintained straight throughout its entire length. When the length of the guide line 21 exceeds approximately twenty-five feet, there is a tendency for the guide line 21 to sag in the central portions. The present apparatus is provided to prevent this sagging of the guide linein the central portions and to greatly simplify the masons work. In the FIGURES 1 through 5, a first embodiment, generally designated 25, of the present apparatus is illustrated.

, The first embodiment 25 of the present apparatus includes an elongated rigid spacing member 26 constructed from hollow tubular material having a generally rectangular shaped cross section with a slot 27 extending the entire length of one side thereof. The length of the spacing member 26 should be equal to a plurality of courses of the block or brick being laid, and at least the surface having the slot 27 therein should be straight from adjacent one end to adjacent the other end.

Positioning means, generally designated 28, include a horizontal member 29, constructed of the same material as the spacing member 26, and a vertical member 30, having a generally H-shaped cross section. The cross section of the vertical member 30 is such that one leg thereof is engaged Within the central opening of the spacing member 26, while the web between the legs extends outwardly through the slot 27 in the spacing member 26. The horizontal member 29 is fixedly attached to the outer surface of the other leg of the vertical member 30 and a gusset 31 is attached therebetween to provide the connection with sufiicient mechanical strength. Thus, with the vertical 0 member 30 correctly engaged in the spacing member 26,

the horizontal member 29 extends approximately perpendicularly outwardly therefrom. A thumb screw 32 threadedly engaged through the vertical member approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis there-- of is adapted to bear against the inner surface of the spacing member 26 and hold the positioning means 28 rigidly at any desired longitudinal position along the spacing member 26.

An elongated sliding member having a generally rectangular shaped cross section is positioned within the horizontal member 29 for longitudinal sliding movements relative thereto. The sliding member 35 has a plurality of downwardly extending legs 36 fixedly attached thereto and spaced apart longitudinally therealong. The legs 36 are adapted to have a thumb screw 37 threadedly engaged therethrough adjacent the lower end for engagement with the rear surface of a block 38. The sliding member 35 is positioned within the horizontal member 29 so that one of the legs 36 is spaced from the spacing member 26 approximately the width of the block 38. The sliding member 35 is held fixedly in this position by a thumb screw 40 threadedly engaged through a block of material 41 fixedly engaged to the upper surface of the horizontal member 29. The lower end of the thumb screw 40 passes through an opening in the upper surface of the horizontal member 29 and bears against the upper surface of the sliding member 35 to hold the two fixedly positioned relative to each other. The entire apparatus 25 is held fixedly positioned relative to the block 38 by tightening the thumb screw 37 against the rear surface of the block 38. A bubble-type level 42 is fixedly attached to the upper surface of the horizontal member 29 to aid the operator in correctly positioning the apparatus 25. Additional legs 36 are provided for different Widths of blocks 38.

A second vertical member 45, similar to the vertical member 30, is engaged in the spacing member 26 and positioned longitudinally by a thumb screw 46. The second vertical member 45 has a horizontal member 47 rigidly attached thereto and extending outwardly approxi mately perpendicular thereto and parallel with the horizontal member 29. The horizontal member 47 has a generally T-shaped cross section with the portion forming the leg of the T extending downwardly and the portions forming the arms of the T extending approximately horizontally to form a flat upper surface. A sliding block 48, formed of a short piece of material similar to the material forming the spacing member 26, is engaged over the horizontal member 47 with the fiat horizontal portion in the central opening and the downwardly extending portion in the slot. Thus, the sliding block 48 is free to move horizontally, but substantially prevented from vertical movement. A thumb screw 49 is threadedly engaged through the upper surface of the sliding block 48 and bears against a spring member 50 positioned between the upper surface of the horizontal member 47 and the inner surface of the sliding block 48. As the thumb screw 49 is tightened, horizontal movement of the sliding block 48 is prevented and the spring member 50 is held fixedly in position. The spring member 50 extends outwardly from either side of the sliding block 48 and is adapted to have the guide line 21 engaged thereunder. Thus, the guide line 21 is maintained horizontal by the appartus 25. As additional courses of bricks are added to the starting course 20, the horizontal member 47 can be moved vertically upwardly by loosening the thumb screw 46. If the wall extends upwardly above the spacing member 26, the thumb screw 37 can be loosened and the spacing member 26 moved to a vertical position on a higher course.

FIGURES 6 through 10 illustrate a second embodiment of the present apparatus for use in constructing a wall, such as brick wall 56, for a building front or the like. Normally, the building will have wood sheathing 58 on the surface thereof and the brick wall 56 will be placed so that a void 57 is left between the brick wall 56 and the Wood sheathing 58. The second embodiment 55 of the present apparatus includes a spacing member 60 constructed of material substantially similar to the spacing member 26 described in conjunction with the first embodiment 25. The spacing member 60 has a slot 61 extending longitudinally along one side thereof and a plurality of regularly spaced holes 62 formed in the opposite side thereof. A longitudinal slot 63 is formed in the opposite side of the spacing member 60 adjacent the lower end thereof, see FIGURE 10, to receive a nail therethrough, as illustrated in FIGURE 7. The slot 63 is formed in the spacing member 60 so that the spacing-member 60 can be removed from the void 57 between the brick Wall 56 and the wood sheathing 58 after the brick wall 56 has been constructed to a substantial height. A second nail is engaged through the upper-most hole 62 in the spacing member 60 and forced into the wood sheathing 58 to hold the spacing member 60 rigidly in a substantially vertical position with the hole 62 positioned on the outer surface thereof.

A generally V-shaped member 65 has one arm 66 positioned so as to be substantially horizontal and a second arm 67 extending at an angle from the outer-most end of the arm 66 upwardly toward the spacing member 60. The V-shaped member 65 has a portion 6-8 extending upwardly from the upper-most end of the second arm 67 approximately parallel with the outer surface of the spacing member 60. The inner-most end of the arm 66 has a circular member 69 attached thereto and extending longitudinally outwardly therefrom. The diameter of the circular member 69 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole 62 so that the circular member 69 fits readily therein. A groove 70 is formed in the lower surface of the circular member 69 so as to engage the periphery of one of the holes 62 and prevent axial movement of the circular member 69 in the hole 62. The portion 68 attached to the second arm 67 has a longitudinal slot 71 therethrough and a bolt 72 is engaged in the slot 71 with the head thereof extending outwardly toward the spacing member 60 and a wing nut 73 threadedly engaged on the body thereof. The bolt 72 has an elongated cylindrical head with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole 62, and a groove therein opening upwardly and adapted to engage the periphery of one of the holes 62. The bolt 72 can be adjusted longitudinally in the slot 71 so that the distance between the head of the bolt 72 and the circular member 69 is slightly greater than the distance between a pair of holes 62. The V-shape-d member 65 is formed from a slightly resilient material, such as steel or the like, so that the two arms 66 and 67 can be compressed slightly toward each other to insert the circular member 69 and the head of the bolt 72 in a pair of holes 62. The resiliency of the V-shaped member 65 produces a bias tending to force the arms 66 and 67 outwardly and maintain the V-shaped member 65 fixedly attached to the spacing. member 60. A sliding block 75, th'umb screw 76 and spring member 77 similar to sliding block 48, thumb screw 49, and spring member 50 in the first embodiment 25, are attached to the undersunface of the arm 66 of the V-shaped member 65 to engage a guide line 78.

A third embodiment 80 of the present apparatus for use in constructing in masonry wall adjacent a concrete superstructure 81, is illustrated in FIGURES 11 through 14. The third embodiment 80 includes a spacing member 82 having a generally rectangular shaped cross section and a plurality of regularly spaced holes 83 in one surface thereof. The holes 83 are spaced to receive a V-shaped member 65 therein and to allow movement of the V-shaped member 65 longitudinally therealon-g a distance approximately equal to the width of a course of the type of bricks being used in the wall. Guide line 78 is received in V-shaped member 65 as described above.

During the construction of concrete super-structures such as 81 dovetail slots 84 are formed at regular intervals therein. In the third embodiment 80 of the present apparatus positioning means, generally designated 88, includes a dovetail shaped plate 85 which is fixedly attached to a generally rectangular shaped plate 86 so as to lie in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the plate 86 and generally perpendicular to one surface thereof. A pair of bolts 87 are threadedly engaged through the plate 86 and bear against the outer surface of the concrete superstructure 81 when the dovetail shaped plate 85 is correctly positioned in the dovetail slot 84. The bolts 87 provide a bias on the plate 86 forcing it outwardly from the concrete superstructure 81 and maintaining the dovetail shaped plate 85 fixedly engaged in the dovetail slot 84.

The positioning means 88 further includes a hollow tubular section 89 having inner measurements slightly larger than the outer measurements of the spacing member 82. The section 89 has a threaded rod 90 extending outwardly :Erom one surface thereof and adapted to be threadedly engaged in a hole 91 in the plate 86. Thus, the section 89 is fixedly attached to the plate 86 and can be pivoted about an axis perpendicular thereto. The section 89 has a thumb screw 92 threadedly engaged in the surface opposite the surface having the threaded rod 90' attached thereto and adapted to be received in one of the holes 85 of the spacing member 82 to hold it fixedly engaged in the section 89. Two of the positioning means 88 are affixed to the concrete super-structure 81 in FIGURE 12, and maintain the spacing member 82 vertical and rigidly attached thereto. As a brick wall is constructed adjacent the concrete super-structure 81, the spacing member 82 can be moved vertically upwardly in the positioning means 88 and the positioning means 88 can in turn be moved upwardly so they are not lost behind the wall.

Thus, several embodiments of a guide line supporting apparatus have been disclosed which greatly reduce the time and effort required by a mason to support a guide line horizontally over an extended construction. In addition to being relatively simple to operate, the present apparatus is relatively inexpensive to construct and highly versatile.

While I have shown and described specific embodiments of this invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular forms shown and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in masonry construction to support portions of a guide line and maintain said guide line approximately horizontal comprising:

(a) an elongated rigid spacing member having at least a portion thereof extending in a substantially straight line from adjacent one end of said spacing member to adjacent the other end thereof;

(b) means fixedly positioning said rigid spacing member adjacent said masonry construction with said portion thereof substantially vertical and adjacent the portion of the guide line to be supported, said positioning means including a slot in said spacing member opening at the lower end thereof and extending a short distance longitudinally therealong and an opening adjacent the upper end thereof, said slot and said opening receiving nails therethrough for removably aflixing said spacing member in a void between the masonry construction and an adjacent wall; and

(c) means movably engaged with said spacing member extending outwardly therefrom above said masonry construction a predetermined distance and having means thereon for engaging said line.

2. Apparatus for use in masonry construction to support portions of a guide line and maintain said guide line approximately horizontal comprising:

(a) an elongated rigid spacing member having a flat side extending in a substantially straight line from adjacent one end of said spacing member to adjacent the other end thereof;

(b) a plurality of openings in said fiat side spaced at regular intervals parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof;

(c) means fixedly positioning said rigid spacing member adjacent said masonry construction with said flat side substantially vertical and adjacent the portion of the guide line to be supported;

(d) a generally V-shaped member having engaging means adjacent the ends of the arms forming said V, said engaging means fitting within pairs of said openings so that said V-shaped member is movable longitudinally along said spacing member in regular increments;

(c) said V-shaped member being constructed of resilient material and the arms being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the distance between any pair of openings for biasing said V-shaped member into rigid engagement with said spacing member; and

(f) means associated with said V-shaped member for engaging the guide line and maintaining it substantially horizontal.

3. Apparatus for use in masonry construction to support portions of a guide line and maintain said guide line approximately horizontal comprising:

(a) an elongated rigid spacing member having at least a portion thereof extending in a substantially straight line from adjacent one end of said spacing member to adjacent the other end thereof;

(b) means fixedly positioning said rigid spacing member adjacent said masonry construction with said portion thereof substantially vertical and adjacent the portion of the guide line to be supported, said spacing member including at least a pair of plates each having attached thereto a dovetail adapted to be engaged in a dovetail slot of a concrete superstructure and means associated with said plates for producing a horizontal force between said superstructure and said plates tending to hold said dovetail rigidly in said slot; and

(c) means movably engaged with said spacing member extending outwardly therefrom above said masonry construction a predetermined distance and having means thereon for engaging said line.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner. 

